A data management plan is a document outlining how a researcher plans to manage data during and after a research project including how it will be organized, maintained and shared. More and more funding agencies are now requiring researchers to submit a formal data management plan (DMP) when applying for grants. The National Institutes of Health began requiring a DMP in 2003 and this year the National Science Foundation announced all grant applications submitted January 18th, 2011 or later will require a DMP.
The UW Libraries Data Services Team is working on a more comprehensive guide to creating a data management plan. Until then, here are some existing resources that can help.
University of Minnesota has created a page with data management guidelines for several major funding agencies:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
National Science Foundation (NSF)
NSF Directorate Guidance